Thursday, November 26, 2009 volume 1 issue 3  


“a-connect challenges my work on a continuous basis, serving as an extremely valuable sparring
partner when I'm out on a project.”  
D.G., IP since 2006


Speed Read: This Issue's Complimentary Business Book Abstract
"Flawed Advice and the Management Trap", by Chris Argyris

Chris Argyris says that management advice–the content of countless seminars by management consultants and human resource professionals–rests upon a discrepancy. The goal of a more democratic workplace with empowered, internally-driven workers contradicts the actual actions executives take to produce this result. Argyris contends that much leadership, decision-making, corporate change and management advice lacks critical thinking. He urges executives to seek specific, testable, actionable advice. Role-playing and numerous examples show how advice givers may fail to understand the nature of the problems they’re addressing.

This book is valuable in helping managers identify flawed advice and understand why so many management initiatives fail. It can be difficult, however, to test for the effects of specific advice in complex situations. Still, this is an important book because it urges executives to think critically about the guidance they are given. We recommend this book to managers and to those who advise them.
 
About the author

Chris Argyris is a professor at Harvard University’s Graduate Schools of Business Administration and Education. He has written 31 books on organizations and the people in them. He has spent his professional lifetime studying organizations. His work includes designing new organizational structures and policies to help people become more integrated into their organizations, to reach their full potential, and to make the organizations more effective.

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contents
Welcome to the a-connect IP Newsletter
Choosing a Management Consultant with Impact
Speed Read: This Issue's Complimentary Business Book Abstract
"Voyage vers la Source"
Recent Projects
a-connect Team Update
IP Pool Statistics as of December 2006
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